Border patrolman charged with assaulting girlfriend

LOUISVILLE  A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was jailed Sunday after an alleged drunken domestic dispute with his live-in girlfriend.

Gerald B. Ware II, 41, of 1535 County Route 36, Louisville, was arrested by state police. He was charged with second-degree assault with intent to cause serious physical injury, a felony; fourth-degree criminal mischief with disabling equipment to prevent request for emergency assistance, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and third-degree assault with intent to cause physical injury, all misdemeanors, and second-degree harassment with physical contact, a violation.

According to Betsy A. Farnsworth, Mr. Wares girlfriend, the two argued over picking up his children and her children. Following the argument, Mr. Ware spent five hours consuming alcohol.

She said it was at about 10 p.m. Sunday that the argument escalated to physical violence.

Mr. Ware allegedly punched Ms. Farnsworth in the face, causing bruising on her nose and around her eye, and wrapped his hands around her neck, then blocked her nose by pinching her nostrils closed, preventing her from breathing.

Trooper Jonathan J. White reported that Mr. Ware allegedly prevented Ms. Farnsworth from using a phone to call police during the altercation at their home.

Ms. Farsworth told police Mr. Ware took her cell phone and threw it after she said she was going to call the police.

Police additionally reported that Mr. Ware slapped and pushed Ms. Farnsworth and slammed her head off of a dresser, all while making threats to kill her.

Ms. Farnsworth told police the attack was not the first, alleging that Mr. Ware broke her finger in March. Ms. Farnsworth suffered permanent damage and limited mobility to her finger, police reported.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Shelbe Benson-Fuller said the office stresses honor and integrity and the kind of behavior that jailed Mr. Ware is not tolerated.

We do not tolerate corruption, abuse or criminal activity within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, on or off duty, Ms. Benson-Fuller said.

Mr. Ware was remanded to St. Lawrence County Jail, Canton, on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond and was released by Monday evening.

Massena Town Justice Gerald P. Sharlow issued an order of protection for Ms. Farnsworth and her daughter, Lindsay Farnsworth.

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